©Courtesy of Cannon International
According to published reports, A24 is said to be interested in remaking Bloodsport, the celebrated martial-arts film that was released in 1988. That film, which starred Belgian actor Jean-Claude Van Damme, earned $50 million on a $2 million budget and launched Van Damme’s career as an action figure.
Directed by the late Newt Arnold from a screenplay by Christopher Cosby, Mel Friedman, and Sheldon Lettich, Bloodsport awakened an interest in martial arts films especially in the United States. It portrayed Van Damme in the role of Frank Dux, an army captain who participated in an underground Hong Kong martial-arts tournament called the Kumite, earning the ire of his superiors. Costarring in the 1988 film were Leah Ayres, Forest Whitaker, Donald Gibb, Roy Chiao, and Bolo Yeung.
Previous attempts to remake Bloodsport had been made by Australian directors Phil Noyce and James McTeigue, but their efforts came to naught, as did an effort by cowriter Sheldon Lettich to make Bloodsport: A New Beginning. Rumors also surfaced in 2019 that John Wick directors David Leitch and Chad Stahelski were also considering a remake.
A24 has been making more action movies in recent years, pivoting from its earlier strategy of making arthouse films. The new films include Warfare, which has its theatrical release this week. A24 has also made Adam Wingard’s Onslaught as well as the Friday the 13th Peacock series called Crystal Lake.
While no casting or plot details have been released about the Bloodsport remake, it’s being reported that A24 is not going to bring back Van Damme in his iconic role, but is instead looking for fresh new talent
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Born as Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg, Van Damme was known as the “Muscles from Brussels” when he first began appearing in films in the mid-1980s, including the inconsequential Missing in Action and No Retreat, No Surrender. After Bloodsport appeared in 1988, he later was seen in Cyborg, Lionheart, Double Impact, and Universal Soldier. His breakthrough came in 1994 with Timecop, which earned $100 million globally.